Chinese phrases
How to say please in Chinese
Please in Chinese is 请 (qǐng). It goes before the verb: 请进, “please come in.” To ask for a favour, people more often say 麻烦你 (má fan nǐ) or soften the verb with 一下.
请
please
Ways to say please
请
Everydayplease
Before a verb, to invite or to ask politely: 请坐, 请稍等. Hosts, staff and teachers use it all the time.
麻烦你
Everydaycould I trouble you…
The everyday way to ask a favour: 麻烦你帮我拍张照, “could you take a photo of me?” Say 麻烦您 to someone older.
帮我看一下
Everydaycould you take a look for me?
一下 after a verb makes a request light and quick. It does the work that please does in English.
好不好
With friendsOK? (please?)
At the end of a request to a friend: 陪我去，好不好? It sounds like a soft “please?”
拜托了
With friendsplease, I’m counting on you
For a real favour. 拜托拜托 is more pleading and playful.
请勿
Writtenplease do not
On signs and notices: 请勿吸烟, “no smoking.”
Phrases with 请 you will hear
请进
please come in
A host at the door, or someone who answers a knock.
请坐
please sit down
A host, a doctor, someone at a desk.
请稍等
one moment, please
Staff at a counter or on the phone.
请慢用
enjoy your meal
A waiter as the food arrives.
Common mistakes
Adding 请 to every request
English puts please in most requests. Chinese often leaves it out and softens the request with 一下, 吧 or a friendly tone. In a restaurant, 来一碗米饭 is normal and not rude.
Putting 请 at the end
请 goes before the action: 请坐. Don’t add it after a request, as you can with please in English.
Using 请 for a question
请 alone does not start a question. To ask a stranger something, start with 请问, “may I ask”: 请问，洗手间在哪里?
Missing 请 as “to treat”
请 also means to invite and pay. 我请你吃饭 means “dinner is on me.”
Visiting a friend
请进！
Qiqi: Come in!
打扰了。
Leon: Sorry to impose.
别客气，请坐。
Qiqi: Don’t be so formal. Have a seat.
谢谢！
Leon: Thanks!
